Shernov



March 10, 1964 A. sHERNov 3,123,835

COMBINATION sINK sToPPER AND WATER CIRCULATOR Filed Dec. 19, 1962 6a-EIS 5 United States Patent O 3,123,835 COMBINATION SINK STOPPER AND WATER CIRCULATOR Albert Shernov, 1775 Clay Ave., New York, N.Y. Filed Dec. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 245,798 2 Claims. (Cl. 4-'286) This invention relates to a combination sink stopper and water circulator and has as its primary objective the provision of a sink article which may be employed to stop or close the drain of a conventional sink for dishwashing or other purposes and which when reversed will provide a relatively small passage for the drainage of scalding water, for example, when rinsing the dishes whereby to avoid the necessity of placing the hands inthe scalding water at any time.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which may be readily formed from a single blank of resilient material such as rubber, plastic, or the like, and which may be cut or formed with a minimum of operations.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which may be readily adapted to a wide variety of sink types and sizes.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which may, by the implementation of a simple adapter be employed with the so-called well-type of sink wherein there is no at drain upon which to seat the stopper.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efficient in operation and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Still other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawing wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawing:

FIG. l is a top plan view of one form of combination stopper and water circulator constructed in accordance with the instant invention, parts being broken away;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof, parts being broken away;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view as viewed from the left in FIGURE l;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. l as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FiG. 5 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line S5 of FIG. l, as viewed from the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary View of a sink, partially in section, showing the device of the instant invention in section in drain-closing position;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the device in water-circulating position, and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view disclosing the device as shown in FIG. 6 arranged with an adapter whereby the same may be used in a well-type sink.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Having reference now to the drawing in detail, the device of the instant invention is generally indicated at 1i) and comprises, in the illustrative embodiment shown, a disk 11 which is preferably comprised of resilient material such as rubber or the like. Obviously, the device can be made in other shapes and of other suitable resilient material. At one side of disk 11 a lug 12 projects and is provided with an opening 13 by means of which the device may be suspended for drying or storage when not in use.

ice

A closure iiap 14 is formed centrally of disk 11 and is of substantially circular configuration with a connection 15 to the body of the disk so that the ilap 14 is free to move. The circular cut is inclined outwardly, as indicated at 16, from the top to the bottom so that the flap affords in effect a one-way valve, the device when positioned as shown in FIG. 6 being effectively held closed by the drain 17 positioned in the well 18 of a conventional sink 19. The weight of the water bearing on the top surface of flap 14 serves to hold the closure against the drain 17 and precludes any passage of water therethrough.

A protuberance 20 is positioned on top of ap 14 and is provided with an inclined top surface 21 which inclines toward the connecting portion 15. The arrangement is thus such that when the disk 11 is turned over as shown in FIG. 7, the inclined edge 21 of protuberance 2i? rests iiush against the top of drain 17 and holds flap 14 in partially open position to provide an annular drainage passage between the inclined surface 16 of the flap and the oppositely inclined surface 16a of the opening formed in the disk in which the Hap seats.

In the use and operation of the device, the stopper 10 is first positioned as shown in FIG. 6 and the sink lled with warm water to which soap or detergent may be added and the dishes are washed. The hand H may then be inserted in the sink 19 and the stopper removed or pushed aside to permit drainage of the water W.

After the drainage is completed or even prior thereto, the device may be reverted to the position shown in FIG. 7, and the sink refilled with scalding water S as shown in FIG. 7. The annular drainage opening afforded by the up-turned flap 14 permits the water to drain slowly, thoroughly scalding and rinsing the dishes. After the water is completely drained out, the stopper may be removed and hung to drain by the opening i3.

FIG. 8 discloses the use of an identical stopper and circulator l@ on the sink 19a having a well-type opening 18a wherein the container (not shown) is not :Bush with the sink bottom. Under these circumstances, an adapter generally indicated at 25 may be positioned in the top of the well so that the device may be used in a manner identical with that previously described. The adapter simply comprises a flat apertured disk 26 having a depending annular flange dimensioned to fit interiorly of the well 18a with the bottom of the flange seating on the conventional bead 28 which normally supports the conventional basket 29 found in such drainage wells. The device may obviously be employed with or without the basket and if desired the flange 27 may be omitted and a flat disk 26 employed to cover the well opening.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an approved combination sink stopper and water circulator which accomplishes all the objects of this invention and others including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

It should now be understood that this combination sink stopper and water circulator provides total stoppage when the valve lifter protuberance 2@ is pointing up opposite to the sink drain strainer 17 as shown in FIG. 6, and thereby maintaining the valve flap 14 in the closed position.

It should also now be understood that to provide outflow drainage metering from the sink 19 in relation to the rate of water intake from the spigot or faucet that may be adjusted so as to maintain a constant head of clean circulating water passing automatically over dishes in the sink for the scalding period. This is effected by turning over the combination stopper and circulator so that the valve lifter protuberance 2th rests on the sink strainer 17 or disk 26 to elevate and maintain the Valve flap 14 in the open position. The water supply faucet is then opened so that any height or level of clean circulating water is maintained automatically in the sink, de-

pending upon the degree of manual adjustment of the Water supply faucet. By this there has been provided automatic means for such operations as soaking, rinsing and scalding of dishes and cooking utensils in a bath of clean circulating water. These operations may be allowed to continue for an indefinite period of time and cease only when the water supply faucet is closed manually. When the Water Vis shut olf, the level of the Water in the sink will subside and drain out completely through the meteringr valve ap 14 Without removing the combined stopper and circulator 10 from the sink. There will have been no requirement to have placed the hands in the hot scalding rinse water. It has been only necessary to turn olf the Water supply.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept and as many modifications may be made in the embodiments hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim: Y

1. A combination sink stopper and water circulator i comprised of a flat member of resilient material having top and bottom surfaces, said member having a central opening therein dened by a beveled cut with the bottom of greater extent than the top, said cut delining an integral ap secured to said disk at one side of the cut, said llap comprising a one-way valve which is closed when the top of said member is up, and a protuberance on the top of said flap which, when the member is reversed, raises said flap to define a drainage opening about the periphery of said annular cut.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said protuberance has a top surface inclined inwardly toward the circumferential point of connection of said flap with said disk and adapted when reversed to hold the ap in partially open condition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Behre June 22, 1948 Gerue Apr. 21, 1953 Timmons Oct. 24, 1961 

1. A COMBINATION SINK STOPPER AND WATER CIRCULATOR COMPRISED OF A FLAT MEMBER OF RESILIENT MATERIAL HAVING TOP AND BOTTOM SURFACES, SAID MEMBER HAVING A CENTRAL OPENING THEREIN DEFINED BY A BEVELED CUT WITH THE BOTTOM OF GREATER EXTENT THAN THE TOP, SAID CUT DEFINING AN INTEGRAL FLAP SECURED TO SAID DISK AT ONE SIDE OF THE CUT, SAID FLAP COMPRISING A ONE-WAY VALVE WHICH IS CLOSED WHEN THE TOP OF SAID MEMBER IS UP, AND A PROTUBERANCE ON THE TOP OF SAID FLAP WHICH, WHEN THE MEMBER IS REVERSED, RAISES SAID FLAP TO DEFINE A DRAINAGE OPENING ABOUT THE PERIPHERY OF SAID ANNULAR CUT. 